Top Crop Summit 2023


WHY ATTEND?

Canadian farmers and agronomists have faced incredible challenges over the last few years, but the agility and resilience of Canada’s ag industry has never been stronger. We’re thrilled to showcase the merits of Canadian farmers and the scientific community at the 2023 Top Crop Summit, our annual educational forum. Join leading researchers, industry stakeholders and your peers at the TCU Place on Feb. 22 and 23, 2023, for the Top Crop Summit. You’ll leave with ideas and inspiration to keep your crops as healthy and profitable as possible, no matter what curveballs the season brings.  



AGENDA

Our editorial team is putting together the final schedule that will include a full day of industry experts discussing Canadian crop production research and trends, and a happy hour for attendees and sponsors to network on Feb. 22nd, followed by a half day of sessions focused on malt barley insights and best management practices.

Stay tuned for speaker and schedule details.


TRADE SHOW

All exhibitors and sponsors offer relevant products and services to the field crop production sector. Meet with exhibitors who are showcasing new products, membership benefits and are committed to helping you keep your crops healthy and profitable in 2023.

To reserve your booth or amplify your brand exposure, contact:

Quinton Moorehead | 204-720-1639
Or
Michelle Bertholet | 204-596-8710

Speakers

Aaron Beattie
Dr. Aaron Beattie
Aaron Mills
Dr. Aaron Mills
Alireza Akhavan
Dr. Alireza Akhavan - Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Breanne Tidemann
Dr. Breanne Tidemann
Charles Geddes
Dr. Charles Geddes
Clark Brenzil
Don Flaten
Dr. Don Flaten
Doug Munro
Jeff Schoenau
Dr. Jeff Schoenau
Sheri Strydhorst
Dr. Sheri Strydhorst
Tyler Wist
Dr. Tyler Wist

Attend Top Crop Summit
Get ready to discover new technologies and solutions

Register to Attend

Schedule

*Event schedule subject to change
7:00am – 8:00am

Exhibitor set-up & arrival
8:00am - 8:45am

Attendee registration opens
9:00am - 9:05am

Opening remarks
9:05am – 9:55am

Kochia control in a glyphosate-resistant world

Speaker: Charles Geddes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alta.

Kochia is an indelible pest to producers, and with ongoing herbicide resistance, new control options must be considered. Charles will present research on alternative methods to control this weed.

Charles Geddes is a research scientist studying weed ecology and cropping systems at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Lethbridge, Alta.
9:55am – 10:25am

Nitrogen management considerations: Getting the most out of applied nitrogen

Speaker: Jeff Schoenau, University of Saskatchewan

How do 4R management-related factors (rate decisions, selection of source, including enhanced efficiency N products, time of application and placement) improve N fertilizer recovery by crops? The nature of N losses, including nitrous oxide, and how these losses may be addressed, is considered. 

10:25am – 10:45am

Coffee and networking break
10:45am – 11:30am

2023 Insect watch

Speaker: Dr. Tyler Wist

What impacts does a drought have on insect pest carryover? What insects should be on your radar for 2023? This presentation will give a glimpse at the insect pests keeping entomologists up at night.

Dr. Tyler Wist is a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatoon. Wist and his team develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools and solutions to sustain the economic and environmental viability of farming systems in Western Canada.
11:30am – 12:20pm

4R P fertilizer management in the Prairies: an updated review

Speaker: Don Flaten, University of Manitoba

The cold soils at planting and short growing season in the Canadian Prairies create special challenges for P nutrition in crops and P fertilization practices. In addition, recent changes in management practices such as widespread adoption of reduced tillage systems, introduction of new crops and high-yielding varieties, intensification and extension of crop rotations, and development of new fertilizer products have also affected management of P fertilizer. This presentation will summarize and update a recent review of P management research in the Northern Great Plains that provides the science base for “4R” management of P fertilizer in this region (i.e., “right” source, “right” rate, “right” time and “right” place for fertilizer application).

Dr. Don Flaten recently retired from the University of Manitoba, where he was a professor in soil fertility, crop nutrition, and nutrient management. Prior to teaching and conducting research on a full-time basis in
12:20pm – 1:10pm

Lunch and networking break
1:10pm – 1:50pm

Getting the most out of crop rotations

Speaker: Sheri Strydhorst

Western Canadian crop rotations are often simple with a heavy dominance of canola and wheat. While many scientific studies show the benefits of diverse crop rotations, these are not always implemented on-farm due to: economic drivers and logistics of large farm operations. This presentation will explore the trends in yield performance of different crop rotations and look at potential ways of diversifying rotations while acknowledging the logistical and economic constraints that farmers face.
1:50pm – 2:50pm

Integrated weed management on the Prairies

Speaker: Clark Brenzil, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

A complex topic made more complex by issues like herbicide resistance and carryover, integrated weed management on the Prairies is a vitally important topic for producers and agronomists. Clark will present strategies to enhance crop diversity and management for 2023.

2:50pm – 3:10pm

Coffee and networking break
3:10pm – 4:00pm

Verticillium stripe of canola in Saskatchewan

Speaker: Alireza Akhavan, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

Plant pathologists across the Prairies are keeping a keen eye on Verticillium stripe, a potentially devastating canola disease first discovered in Canadian canola production in 2014. Dr. Alireza Akhavan will share the results of the 2022 Verticillium stripe surveillance program in Saskatchewan, surveillance plans for 2023, and insights on the tools to manage the disease.

Dr. Alireza Akhavan is the provincial specialist, plant disease, with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture since August 2020. Prior to joining the ministry, he was with the University of Alberta and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Lacombe for almost 10 years, teaching plant pathology and working on various diseases of canola and cereal crops across the Canadian Prairies.

 
4:00pm

Closing remarks
8:30am

Opening remarks
8:35am – 9:25am Breakfast Keynote

Adding value to the Canadian malting barley industry through breeding and research

Speaker: Aaron Beattie, University of Saskatchewan

Canadian barley acreage has averaged 7.5 million acres over the past five years, resulting in annual production of 9.2 million tonnes of barley and an overall contribution to the Canadian GDP exceeding $13 billion in 2020. One of the pillars of the western Canadian malting barley industry are varieties that meet the needs of the various members of the value-chain, including growers, grain handlers, maltsters and brewers. Improving barley varieties by enhancing currently important traits, or by introducing new traits, is the focus of the barley breeding program at the Crop Development Centre. This presentation will provide an overview of western Canadian barley production, the various types of malting barley being bred, recent varieties released, and examples of traits that are the focus of current research which have, or may eventually have, value to the industry.

9:25 – 10:10am

Malt barley agronomy insights

Speaker: Breanne Tidemann, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe, Alta.

What tools are available to producers growing malt barley? In this presentation, Breanne will share highlights from her recent research related to the crop, including the efficacy of plant growth regulators, the usage and effects of pre-harvest glyphosate on malt barley, and a sneak peek at a new project that explores competitive barley varieties.

10:10 – 10:30am

Coffee and networking break
10:30am – 11:15am


Malt across Canada: how previous crop selection can help to reduce nitrogen inputs for barley

Speaker: Aaron Mills, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Aaron will give a perspective of malt barley production in eastern Canada and discuss the recent findings of a national study, which evaluated how previous crops can influence malt barley yield and quality.

Aaron Mills is an Agronomist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based out of Charlottetown, P.E.I. His work is focused on cropping system sustainability and closing the yield gap for grains, oilseeds and pulses. He works with the craft beer sector to foster the production of local ingredients including both malt barley and hops, and his work has helped to increase the number of Maritime acres under malt barley production.
11:15am – 12:00pm


Maltster insights: Making informed decisions for 2023

Speaker: Doug Munro, Boortmalt NA

What do maltsters look for when selecting malt barley, how and why are samples chosen, and why does this vary from year to year, or region to region? This session will provide agronomic insights to malt barley growers from the perspective of a maltster.

Doug is the North American Merchandising Manager for Boortmalt NA. He joined Boortmalt/Prairie Malt in 2017. Doug has over 30 years of experience in the malting industry. He started his career at Dominion Malting in Winnipeg where he eventually became the Plant Manager. Doug also worked at the Canadian Wheat Board where he was the Malt Barley Program Manager, responsible for overseeing CWB initiatives in malt barley breeding, new variety development and agronomy. Doug obtained his Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) in 1986 and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in plant physiology in 1988, both at the University of Manitoba. Doug also has a Master of Science, Cereal Chemistry from the University of Manitoba in 1994.
12pm

Closing remarks

Venue

TCU Place

35 22nd Street East,
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 0C8

Click to view location on google map

 

Hotel Accommodations

Holiday Inn Saskatoon Downtown

101 Pacific Avenue
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 3X6
1-306-986-5000

For more information, or to make a reservation online, click here.

 

Delta Saskatoon hotel

405 Twentieth Street East
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 6X6
1-306-665-3322

For more information, or to make a reservation online, click here.



Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Breakfast/Keynote Sponsor
Registration & Delegate Bag Sponsor
Tag Sponsor
Exhibitors